Credit Card Fraud Threatens Future Of Veterans Store

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – A North Texas thrift store, that helps military veterans, may not be able to pay its bills. It isn’t because they didn’t generate the funds needed to operate, but because someone cruised into the store and made a fraudulent purchase.

The main purpose of the Veterans Thrift Store, in the 300 block of West Arkansas Lane, in Arlington is to help find housing for vets. Randolph V. Brown, Sr., a Vietnam era veteran, opened the store and set out on the mission of not only giving veterans jobs, but also helping them with things like housing and counseling.

But everything was compromised on Valentine’s Day when a couple of people went to the store and bought $3,000 worth of merchandise, with a stolen credit card.

“We just thought they were genuine people, that cared about veterans, that wanted to make sure they get their purchases here to help support veterans,” Brown said.

Naturally the charges were later denied and the credit card company charged the amount back to the thrift store.

As it stands, Brown doesn’t have enough money to cover operating costs and payroll for the veterans he employs.